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| A medical worker enters a makeshift COVID-19 testing center in central Seoul, Jan. 19. The authorities in Seoul and its surrounding area remained on alert Wednesday as heavy snow was forecast for the greater capital region throughout the day. Yonhap |
The authorities in Seoul and its surrounding area remained on alert Wednesday as heavy snow was forecast for the greater capital region throughout the day.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government mobilized about 9,000 workers and 1,200 snow-removing vehicles and other equipment after a heavy snow alert was issued across the city as of 9 a.m. More buses and subway trains have also been allocated during commuting hours to prevent transportation inconvenience.
Heavy snow alerts were also issued throughout most of the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
Snow began to fall in the greater Seoul region from around 8 a.m., with 1 to 3 centimeters per hour worth of snow expected until 3 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
Snowfall will become heavier as snow clouds formed over the Yellow Sea move southeast at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour, the KMA said.
In the afternoon, the snow will spread further to southern regions, including the southwestern Jeolla Provinces and inland areas of the southeastern Gyeongsang Provinces.
At night, other parts of the country, including the eastern part of Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, will also see snow.
Up to 7 cm of snow is forecast to pile up in the central region, with up to 20 cm expected in some parts of Gangwon Province, the southeastern Ulleung Island and the easternmost islets of Dokdo.
The KMA has issued preliminary heavy snow alerts in the greater Seoul area and other central regions, including the northern part of Chungcheong Province.
Temperatures were minus 6.7 degrees Celsius in Seoul, minus 5.2 C in Incheon, minus 9.2 C in Daejeon, minus 6 C in Gwangju, minus 6.9 C in Daegu and minus 0.9 C in Busan as of 8 a.m. (Yonhap)
